Debby Yoder, Contributor

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Social Movements in Action: Rallying Against Fort Benning's School of Americas

Posted by Chandra Ward, FORT BENNING,
COLUMBIA, GA --November 16-18 marked 22 years of organized protest against the School of the Americas (SOA) based at
Fort Benning. This
“school", which trains Latin American soldiers in covert military
operations, has existed since the 1940’s, and is allegedly responsible for the
rape, murder, kidnapping and other atrocious attacks against thousands of Latin
American citizens. For example, according to the SOA Watch website, in 1989 the murders of six Jesuit priests and a teen at the Central American
University in San Salvador were carried out by soldiers, most of whom were
graduates of the SOA. The victims were labeled as subversive due to
their questioning of, and opposition to, the government’s socio-economic
structure. This event was the catalyst
for organized resistance against SOA. Since that time, many have traveled
across both state and national borders to Fort Benning's gates to tell their stories
and stand in solidarity with others for peace.

SOA graduates return to their Latin
American countries to serve as part of the State Police. Carrying out the will of repressive regimes,
the skills taught at the SOA are used against union organizers, human rights leaders,
members of clergy, and anyone else who is seen as threat to the interests of those in
power. The U.S spends billions of
dollars in their efforts to promote democracy in foreign countries, yet
ironically, we train soldiers on our own soil to return home and commit undemocratic
atrocities. Among other things, the violence carried out by
graduates can be linked to protecting U.S multi-national corporate interests,
such as those of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola. The SOA protest movement is truly multicultural
and international. Annual protest attendees
have included notable names like actor Martin Sheen and politician Dennis Kucinich. There are a lot of hippies, veterans, and college students from both secular and progressive Christian colleges (yes, they
do exist), as well as radicals and progressives from every walk of life. Over the three day annual convergence there
is a march, a rally, a vigil, and many workshops held by the organizations that
participate in the event.

This year marked my second time
attending the SOA protests, despite the fact that I have lived in Georgia most
of my life. Ironically, I didn’t hear
about the SOA until I moved to Texas.

Chandra Ward is the Assistant
Editor of Social Shutter and a Doctoral student in Sociology at Georgia State
University. You can reach her at chandradward@gmail.com.

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